Presenting audio based on biometrics parameters

ABSTRACT

A device includes at least one computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by a processor, and at least one processor configured for accessing the computer readable storage medium to execute the instructions. The instructions configure the processor for receiving signals from at least one biometric sensor of an exerciser, based at least in part on the signals from the biometric sensor, selecting a music piece, and playing the music piece on a speaker.

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/878,835, filed Sep. 17, 2013.

I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates generally to digital ecosystems that areconfigured for use when engaging in physical activity and/or fitnessexercises.

II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Society is becoming increasingly health-conscious. A wide variety ofexercise and workouts are now offered to encourage people to stay fitthrough exercise. As understood herein, while stationary exerciseequipment often comes equipped with data displays for the information ofthe exerciser, the information is not tailored to the individual and isfrequently repetitive and monotonous. As further understood herein,people enjoy listening to music as workout aids but the music typicallyis whatever is broadcast within a gymnasium or provided on a recordingdevice the user may wear, again being potentially monotonous andunchanging in pattern and beat in a way that is uncoupled from theactual exercise being engaged in.

Thus, while present principles recognize that consumer electronics (CE)devices may be used while engaged in physical activity to enhance theactivity, most audio and/or visual aids are static in terms of not beingtied to the actual exercise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Present principles recognize that portable aids can be provided toimprove exercise performance, provide inspiration, enable the sharing ofexercise performance for social reasons, help fulfill a person'sexercise goals, analyze and track exercise results, and provide virtualcoaching to exercise participants in an easy, intuitive manner.

Accordingly, a device includes at least one computer readable storagemedium bearing instructions executable by a processor, and at least oneprocessor configured for accessing the computer readable storage mediumto execute the instructions. The instructions configure the processorfor receiving signals from at least one biometric sensor of anexerciser, and based at least in part on the signals from the biometricsensor, selecting a music piece, and then playing the music piece on aspeaker.

In some embodiments the biometric sensor may be a heart rate sensor.Also in some embodiments, the processor when executing the instructionsmay be configured for selecting the music piece based at least in parton determining that a tempo of the music piece matches a tempo indicatedin the signals from the biometric sensor. Also in some embodiments, theprocessor when executing the instructions may be configured forselecting the music piece from a music piece library associated with theexerciser, and/or selecting the music piece from a general music piecelibrary and providing output to the exerciser prompting the exerciser topurchase the music piece.

Furthermore, if desired the processor when executing the instructionsmay be configured for determining whether a heart rate of the exerciseras indicated by signals from the biometric sensor exceeds a threshold.The processor may also be configured for decreasing a tempo of the musicpiece responsive to a determination that the heart rate exceeds thethreshold and not decreasing the tempo of the music responsive to adetermination that the heart rate does not exceed the threshold.

Even further, if desired the processor when executing the instructionsmay be configured for determining whether a heart rate of the exerciseras indicated by signals from the biometric sensor is below a threshold.The processor may also be configured for increasing a tempo of the musicpiece responsive to a determination that the heart rate is below thethreshold and not increasing the tempo of the music piece responsive toa determination that the heart rate exceeds the threshold.

Further still, in some embodiments the processor when executing theinstructions may be configured for selecting the music piece based atleast in part on accessing metadata associated with the music pieceindicating a tempo of the music piece, and determining whether the tempoof the music piece matches a tempo indicated in the signals from thebiometric sensor.

In another aspect, a method includes receiving signals from at least onebiometric sensor indicating at least one biometric parameter of a personand keying music being played to the person to the signals.

In still another aspect, a computer readable storage medium that is nota carrier wave bears instructions which when executed by a processorconfigure the processor to execute logic including receiving signalsfrom at least one biometric sensor indicating a cadence of physicalactivity of a person, and based at least in part on the cadence,establishing a playlist of music.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure andoperation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system including an example CEdevice in accordance with present principles;

FIGS. 2-4 are example flowcharts of logic to be executed by a CE devicefor providing information and/or music to a user during physicalactivity in accordance with present principles;

FIG. 5 is an example flowchart of logic to be executed by a server forproviding music and/or information to a CE device in accordance withpresent principles;

FIGS. 6-9 are example user interfaces (UIs) presentable on a CE devicein accordance with present principles; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are exemplary illustrations that demonstrate presentprinciples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This disclosure relates generally to consumer electronics (CE) devicebased user information. With respect to any computer systems discussedherein, a system herein may include server and client components,connected over a network such that data may be exchanged between theclient and server components. The client components may include one ormore computing devices including portable televisions (e.g. smart TVs,Internet-enabled TVs), portable computers such as laptops and tabletcomputers, and other mobile devices including smart phones andadditional examples discussed below. These client devices may employ, asnon-limiting examples, operating systems from Apple, Google, orMicrosoft. A Unix operating system may be used. These operating systemscan execute one or more browsers such as a browser made by Microsoft orGoogle or Mozilla or other browser program that can access webapplications hosted by the Internet servers over a network such as theInternet, a local intranet, or a virtual private network.

As used herein, instructions refer to computer-implemented steps forprocessing information in the system. Instructions can be implemented insoftware, firmware or hardware; hence, illustrative components, blocks,modules, circuits, and steps are set forth in terms of theirfunctionality.

A processor may be any conventional general purpose single- ormulti-chip processor that can execute logic by means of various linessuch as address lines, data lines, and control lines and registers andshift registers. Moreover, any logical blocks, modules, and circuitsdescribed herein can be implemented or performed, in addition to ageneral purpose processor, in or by a digital signal processor (DSP), afield programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic devicesuch as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), discrete gateor transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A processorcan be implemented by a controller or state machine or a combination ofcomputing devices.

Any software modules described by way of flow charts and/or userinterfaces herein can include various sub-routines, procedures, etc. Itis to be understood that logic divulged as being executed by a modulecan be redistributed to other software modules and/or combined togetherin a single module and/or made available in a shareable library.

Logic when implemented in software, can be written in an appropriatelanguage such as but not limited to C# or C++, and can be stored on ortransmitted through a computer-readable storage medium such as a randomaccess memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disk read-only memory(CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage such as digital versatile disc(DVD), magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices includingremovable thumb drives, etc. A connection may establish acomputer-readable medium. Such connections can include, as examples,hard-wired cables including fiber optics and coaxial wires and digitalsubscriber line (DSL) and twisted pair wires. Such connections mayinclude wireless communication connections including infrared and radio.

In an example, a processor can access information over its input linesfrom data storage, such as the computer readable storage medium, and/orthe processor accesses information wirelessly from an Internet server byactivating a wireless transceiver to send and receive data. Datatypically is converted from analog signals to digital and then to binaryby circuitry between the antenna and the registers of the processor whenbeing received and from binary to digital to analog when beingtransmitted. The processor then processes the data through its shiftregisters to output calculated data on output lines, for presentation ofthe calculated data on the CE device.

Components included in one embodiment can be used in other embodimentsin any appropriate combination. For example, any of the variouscomponents described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may becombined, interchanged or excluded from other embodiments.

“A system having at least one of A, B, and C” (likewise “a system havingat least one of A, B, or C” and “a system having at least one of A, B,C”) includes systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and Ctogether, etc.

Before describing FIG. 1, it is to be understood that the CE devices andsoftware described herein are understood to be usable in the context ofa digital ecosystem. Thus, as understood herein, a computer ecosystem,or digital ecosystem, may be an adaptive and distributed socio-technicalsystem that is characterized by its sustainability, self-organization,and scalability. Inspired by environmental ecosystems, which consist ofbiotic and abiotic components that interact through nutrient cycles andenergy flows, complete computer ecosystems consist of hardware,software, and services that in some cases may be provided by onecompany, such as Sony Electronics. The goal of each computer ecosystemis to provide consumers with everything that may be desired, at least inpart services and/or software that may be exchanged via the Internet.Moreover, interconnectedness and sharing among elements of an ecosystem,such as applications within a computing cloud, provides consumers withincreased capability to organize and access data and presents itself asthe future characteristic of efficient integrative ecosystems.

Two general types of computer ecosystems exist: vertical and horizontalcomputer ecosystems. In the vertical approach, virtually all aspects ofthe ecosystem are associated with the same company (e.g. produced by thesame manufacturer), and are specifically designed to seamlessly interactwith one another. Horizontal ecosystems, one the other hand, integrateaspects such as hardware and software that are created by differingentities into one unified ecosystem. The horizontal approach allows forgreater variety of input from consumers and manufactures, increasing thecapacity for novel innovations and adaptations to changing demands. Butregardless, it is to be understood that some digital ecosystems,including those referenced herein, may embody characteristics of boththe horizontal and vertical ecosystems described above.

Accordingly, it is to be further understood that these ecosystems may beused while engaged in physical activity to e.g. provide inspiration,goal fulfillment and/or achievement, automated coaching/training, healthand exercise analysis, convenient access to data, group sharing (e.g. offitness data), and increased accuracy of health monitoring, all whiledoing so in a stylish and entertaining manner. Further still, thedevices disclosed herein are understood to be capable of makingdiagnostic determinations based on data from various sensors (such asthose described below in reference to FIG. 1) for use while exercising,for exercise monitoring (e.g. in real time), and/or for sharing of datawith friends (e.g. using a social networking service) even when not allpeople have the same types and combinations of sensors on theirrespective CE devices.

Thus, it is to be understood that the CE devices described herein mayallow for easy and simplified user interaction with the device so as tonot be unduly bothersome or encumbering e.g. before, during, and afteran exercise.

It is to also be understood that the CE device processors describedherein can access information over its input lines from data storage,such as the computer readable storage medium, and/or the processor(s)accesses information wirelessly from an Internet server by activating awireless transceiver to send and receive data. Data typically isconverted from analog signals to digital and then to binary by circuitrybetween the antenna and the registers of the processor when beingreceived and from binary to digital to analog when being transmitted.The processor then processes the data through its shift registersaccording to algorithms such as those described herein to outputcalculated data on output lines, for presentation of the calculated dataon the CE device.

Now specifically referring to FIG. 1, an example system 10 is shown,which may include one or more of the example devices mentioned above anddescribed further below to enhance fitness experiences in accordancewith present principles. The first of the example devices included inthe system 10 is an example consumer electronics (CE) device 12 that maybe waterproof (e.g., for use while swimming). The CE device 12 may be,e.g., a computerized Internet enabled (“smart”) telephone, a tabletcomputer, a notebook computer, a wearable computerized device such ase.g. computerized Internet-enabled watch, a computerizedInternet-enabled bracelet, other computerized Internet-enabled fitnessdevices, a computerized Internet-enabled music player, computerizedInternet-enabled head phones, a computerized Internet-enabledimplantable device such as an implantable skin device, etc., and evene.g. a computerized Internet-enabled television (TV). Regardless, it isto be understood that the CE device 12 is configured to undertakepresent principles (e.g. communicate with other CE devices to undertakepresent principles, execute the logic described herein, and perform anyother functions and/or operations described herein).

Accordingly, to undertake such principles the CE device 12 can includesome or all of the components shown in FIG. 1. For example, the CEdevice 12 can include one or more touch-enabled displays 14, one or morespeakers 16 for outputting audio in accordance with present principles,and at least one additional input device 18 such as e.g. an audioreceiver/microphone for e.g. entering audible commands to the CE device12 to control the CE device 12. The example CE device 12 may alsoinclude one or more network interfaces 20 for communication over atleast one network 22 such as the Internet, an WAN, an LAN, etc. undercontrol of one or more processors 24. It is to be understood that theprocessor 24 controls the CE device 12 to undertake present principles,including the other elements of the CE device 12 described herein suchas e.g. controlling the display 14 to present images thereon andreceiving input therefrom. Furthermore, note the network interface 20may be, e.g., a wired or wireless modem or router, or other appropriateinterface such as, e.g., a wireless telephony transceiver, WiFitransceiver, etc.

In addition to the foregoing, the CE device 12 may also include one ormore input ports 26 such as, e.g., a USB port to physically connect(e.g. using a wired connection) to another CE device and/or a headphoneport to connect headphones to the CE device 12 for presentation of audiofrom the CE device 12 to a user through the headphones. The CE device 12may further include one or more tangible computer readable storagemedium 28 such as disk-based or solid state storage, it being understoodthat the computer readable storage medium 28 may not be a carrier wave.Also in some embodiments, the CE device 12 can include a position orlocation receiver such as but not limited to a GPS receiver and/oraltimeter 30 that is configured to e.g. receive geographic positioninformation from at least one satellite and provide the information tothe processor 24 and/or determine an altitude at which the CE device 12is disposed in conjunction with the processor 24. However, it is to beunderstood that that another suitable position receiver other than a GPSreceiver and/or altimeter may be used in accordance with presentprinciples to e.g. determine the location of the CE device 12 in e.g.all three dimensions.

Continuing the description of the CE device 12, in some embodiments theCE device 12 may include one or more cameras 32 that may be, e.g., athermal imaging camera, a digital camera such as a webcam, and/or acamera integrated into the CE device 12 and controllable by theprocessor 24 to gather pictures/images and/or video in accordance withpresent principles (e.g. to share aspects of a physical activity such ashiking with social networking friends). Also included on the CE device12 may be a Bluetooth transceiver 34 and other Near Field Communication(NFC) element 36 for communication with other devices using Bluetoothand/or NFC technology, respectively. An example NFC element can be aradio frequency identification (RFID) element.

Further still, the CE device 12 may include one or more motion sensors37 (e.g., an accelerometer, gyroscope, cyclometer, magnetic sensor,infrared (IR) motion sensors such as passive IR sensors, an opticalsensor, a speed and/or cadence sensor, a gesture sensor (e.g. forsensing gesture command), etc.) providing input to the processor 24. TheCE device 12 may include still other sensors such as e.g. one or moreclimate sensors 38 (e.g. barometers, humidity sensors, wind sensors,light sensors, temperature sensors, etc.) and/or one or more biometricsensors 40 (e.g. heart rate sensors and/or heart monitors, caloriecounters, blood pressure sensors, perspiration sensors, odor and/orscent detectors, fingerprint sensors, facial recognition sensors, irisand/or retina detectors, DNA sensors, oxygen sensors (e.g. blood oxygensensors and/or VO2 max sensors), glucose and/or blood sugar sensors,sleep sensors (e.g. a sleep tracker), pedometers and/or speed sensors,body temperature sensors, nutrient and metabolic rate sensors, voicesensors, lung input/output and other cardiovascular sensors, etc.) alsoproviding input to the processor 24. In addition to the foregoing, it isnoted that in some embodiments the CE device 12 may also include akinetic energy harvester 42 to e.g. charge a battery (not shown)powering the CE device 12.

Still referring to FIG. 1, in addition to the CE device 12, the system10 may include one or more other CE device types such as, but notlimited to, a computerized Internet-enabled bracelet 44, computerizedInternet-enabled headphones and/or ear buds 46, computerizedInternet-enabled clothing 48, a computerized Internet-enabled exercisemachine 50 (e.g. a treadmill, exercise bike, elliptical machine, etc.),etc. Also shown is a computerized Internet-enabled gymnasium entry kiosk52 permitting authorized entry to a gymnasium housing the exercisemachine 50. It is to be understood that other CE devices included in thesystem 10 including those described in this paragraph may respectivelyinclude some or all of the various components described above inreference to the CE device 12 such but not limited to e.g. the biometricsensors and motion sensors described above, as well as the positionreceivers, cameras, input devices, and speakers also described above.

Thus, for instance, the headphones/ear buds 46 may include a heart ratesensor configured to sense a person's heart rate when a person iswearing the head phones, the clothing 48 may include sensors such asperspiration sensors, climate sensors, and heart sensors for measuringthe intensity of a person's workout, the exercise machine 50 may includea camera mounted on a portion thereof for gathering facial images of auser so that the machine 50 may thereby determine whether a particularfacial expression is indicative of a user struggling to keep the paceset by the exercise machine 50 and/or an NFC element to e.g. pair themachine 50 with the CE device 12 and hence access a database of presetworkout routines, and the kiosk 52 may include an NFC element permittingentry to a person authenticated as being authorized for entry based oninput received from a complimentary NFC element (such as e.g. the NFCelement 36 on the device 12). Also note that all of the devicesdescribed in reference to FIG. 1, including a server 54 to be describedshortly, may communicate with each other over the network 22 using arespective network interface included thereon, and may each also includea computer readable storage medium that may not be a carrier wave forstoring logic and/or software code in accordance with presentprinciples.

Now in reference to the afore-mentioned at least one server 54, itincludes at least one processor 56, at least one tangible computerreadable storage medium 58 that may not be a carrier wave such asdisk-based or solid state storage, and at least one network interface 60that, under control of the processor 56, allows for communication withthe other CE devices of FIG. 1 over the network 22, and indeed mayfacilitate communication therebetween in accordance with presentprinciples. Note that the network interface 60 may be, e.g., a wired orwireless modem or router, WiFi transceiver, or other appropriateinterface such as, e.g., a wireless telephony transceiver.

Accordingly, in some embodiments the server 54 may be an Internetserver, may facilitate fitness coordination and/or data exchange betweenCE device devices in accordance with present principles, and may includeand perform “cloud” functions such that the CE devices of the system 10may access a “cloud” environment via the server 54 in exampleembodiments to e.g. stream music to listen to while exercising and/orpair two or more devices (e.g. to “throw” music from one device toanother).

Turning now to FIG. 2, an example flowchart of logic to be executed by aCE device such as the CE device 12 in accordance with present principlesfor presenting non-verbal audio cues is shown. The logic begins at block70 where the logic receives (e.g. planned) exercise information, plannedphysical activity information, planned exercise route information, etc.in accordance with present principles and as discussed herein (e.g. auser inputs the information using one of the user interfaces referencedherein). For instance, at block 70 the logic may receive informationpertaining to a planned exercise route (e.g. a jog) through the user'sneighborhood (e.g. and may even use a user's previous average pace onpast jogs) such as the user's desired pace, maximum time to completionof the route, etc. As another example, the logic at block 70 may receiveinformation indicating that the user wishes to ride a bike for tenminutes at a moderately fast pace, then ten minutes at a very fast pace,then ten minutes of cooling down time, and indeed may even specify thedesired miles per hour for each one at which the user wishes to bicycle.As but one more example, a user's personal trainer may set a workoutroutine at the trainer's CE device and then transmit the routine to theuser's CE device for presentation thereon.

In any case, after block 70 the logic proceeds to block 72 where thelogic determines music (e.g. one or more music files stored on and/oraccessible to the CE device) to match at least the (e.g. estimated oruser-indicated/desired) tempo and/or cadence of at least the firstsegment of the user's exercise routine/information (e.g. using theexample above, at least selects music matching a tempo for the user tobicycle at a moderately fast pace to begin the routine). Note that thetempo to music matching may be e.g. initially based on an estimate bythe CE device of a tempo/cadence the user should maintain to comportwith the exercise information (e.g., a certain tempo for pedaling theexercise bicycle to maintain the desired speed). As another example, thetempo to music matching may be estimated at first and then lateradjusted to match the actual cadence of the user after the beginning ofthe workout. As such, e.g. the first song before a user takes his or herfirst step on a jog may contain a tempo that is estimated to be the pacethe user will set and/or should maintain, and thereafter the next song'stempo may be matched to the actual pace of the user. For instance and interms of matching music to a user's actual pace, if the user isexercising at one hundred fifty strides per minute, a piece of music maybe presented that includes one hundred fifty beats per minute for theuser to thereby set his or her pace by moving one stride for everymusical beat.

In addition, note that tempo of the music itself may be determined byaccessing metadata associated with the respective music file thatcontains tempo information (e.g., in beats per minute). As anotherexample, the CE device may parse or otherwise access the music file toidentify a tempo (e.g. identify a beat based on a repeated snare drumsound, inflections in a singer's voice, the changing of guitar chords,etc.), and then use the identified music tempo if it matches the user'space/cadence (e.g. as close as possible, e.g. accounting for minorvariances in the user's cadence as may naturally occur from step to stepon a jog, or revolution to revolution on an exercise bicycle). Thus, itmay be appreciated that e.g. at a time prior to receiving exerciseinformation at block 70, the CE device may access all music files thatare accessible to it (or e.g. a subset of files based on genre, artist,song length, etc.) to determine the beats per minute of each one, andthen create a data table and/or metadata for later access by the CEdevice for efficiently identifying music with a tempo that matches theuser's cadence at a given moment during an exercise routine without e.g.having to at that time parse the user's entire music library for musicmatching the user's cadence.

Still in reference to FIG. 2, after block 72 the logic proceeds to block74 where the logic receives an instruction to begin monitoring theuser's exercise and thus to begin presenting music in accordance withe.g. the cadence of the user. The logic then proceeds to block 76 wherethe logic determines whether a turn is upcoming, e.g. a left or rightturn the user should make to continue traveling on a pre-plannedexercise route. Note that although the present example will be discussedin terms of making a turn, present principles apply equally to anyalteration to a user's direction in order to continue following a route(e.g. a fork in the road, a slight left turn, a u-turn, jumping to anupper tier of a structure in the case of parkour, etc.). As an aside,also note that in some implementations, a non-verbal audio cue may alsobe associated with an instruction for the user to e.g. continue goingstraight such as at an road intersection.

Regardless, if the logic determines that a turn is not upcoming (e.g.not within a predefined threshold distance for turns set by a user priorto embarking on the exercise), the logic proceeds to block 77 wherelogic continues monitoring the user's exercise and continues presentingmusic matched to the user's cadence in accordance with presentprinciples. If, however, the logic determines that a turn is upcoming,the logic instead proceeds to block 78 where the logic notifies and/orcues the user of how to proceed at least using at least one non-verbalaudio cue.

For instance, a single beeping sound may be associated with a left turn(e.g. the user has preset the single beep to be associated with a leftturn) while a double beeping sound may be associated with a right turn(e.g., the user having preset the double beep as well). In addition toor in lieu of the foregoing, should the user be wearing head phones suchas the ones described above, the non-verbal cue may be presented in theleft ear piece (only, or more prominently/loudly) to indicate a leftturn should be made, and the right ear piece (only, or moreprominently/loudly) to indicate a right turn should be made. In additionto or in lieu of the foregoing, other non-verbal cues that may bepresented to a user e.g. in ear pieces in accordance with presentprinciples are haptic non-verbal cues and/or vibrations such that e.g. anon-verbal vibration cue (e.g. the ear piece(s) vibrates based on avibrator located in each respective ear piece that is in communicationwith the CE device's processor) may be presented on the left ear piece(only, or more prominently) to indicate a left turn should be made, andthe right ear piece (only, or more prominently) to indicate a right turnshould be made.

Also in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing, if desired thenon-verbal audio cue may be accompanied (e.g. immediately before orafter the non-verbal audio cue) by a verbal cue such as an instructionto “turn left at the next street.” Also note that the non-verbal audiocue need not be a single or double beep and that other non-verbal audiocues may be used that themselves indicate detailed information such ase.g. using an audible representation of Morse code to provide turninformation to a user.

After block 78, the logic proceeds to block 80 where the logicdetermines that another segment of the planned exercise/route has begun,and accordingly presents music matching the tempo/cadence of the user ashe or she embarks on the next segment (e.g. actual cadence, or desiredcadence based on exercise information determined by the user prior toembarking on the run). As an example, the logic may determine at block80 that the user has transitioned from running on flat ground to runningup a hill, and accordingly presents music with a slower tempo relativeto the music presented while the user was on flat ground (e.g. and alsobased upon segment settings set by a user where the user indicated thata slower pace up the hill was desired relative to the user's pace onflat ground). Conversely, if the user wished to “push it” up the hill,music may be presented with a faster tempo than that presented when theuser was on flat ground, thereby assisting the user with matching arunning cadence to the music tempo to thus proceed up the hill at a pacedesired by the user (e.g. also based on predefined settings by theuser).

In any case, after block 80 the logic proceeds to decision diamond 82,at which the logic determines whether a virtual opponent, if the usermanipulated the CE device to present a representation of one whileproceeding on the exercise, is approaching or moving away from the user.For instance, the user may set settings for a virtual opponent thatrepresents the user's minimum preferred average pace or speed at whichto exercise, and thus can determine based on the virtual opponentrepresentation whether the user's actual pace has slowed below theminimum average pace based on a non-verbal audio cue including an upDoppler effect (e.g. sound frequency increasing) thereby indicating thatthe virtual opponent is approaching. Accordingly, the user can alsodetermine that the virtual opponent is receding (e.g. that the “virtual”distance separating the user and the virtual opponent is becominglarger) based on a non-verbal audio cue including a down Doppler effect(e.g. sound frequency decreasing). Furthermore, from increasing todecreasing and vice versa, the Doppler effect sound may move from oneearpiece of a headphone set to another (e.g. be presented moreprominently in one ear piece, then fade in that ear piece and beincreasingly more prominently presented in the other ear piece) tofurther signify the position of the virtual opponent. Also note thatpresent principles recognize that such non-verbal Doppler cues need notbe presented constantly during the exercise to indicate to the userwhere the virtual opponent is relative to the user, and may e.g. only bepresented to the user responsive to a determination that the virtualopponent is within a threshold distance of the user (e.g. as set by theuser prior to embarking on the exercise routine).

Still in reference to decision diamond 82, if the logic determines thata virtual opponent is not approaching or moving away from the user(e.g., the pace of the user and the “virtual” pace of the virtualopponent are identical or nearly identical, and/or the virtual opponentis not within a threshold distance to present any indication to the userof the location of the virtual opponent), the logic may revert back todecision diamond 76 and continue from there. If, however, the logicdetermines that a virtual opponent is approaching or moving away fromthe user in accordance with present principles, the logic moves to block84 where at least one non-verbal audio cue that the virtual opponent isapproaching or moving away from the user is presented on the CE device.Thereafter, the logic may revert from block 84 to decision diamond 76and proceed from there.

Before moving on to FIG. 3, note that the non-verbal audio cueindicating the position of the virtual opponent may be accompanied by(e.g. presented concurrently with, before, and/or after) a verbal audiocue indicating the position of the virtual opponent. For example, thenon-verbal Doppler effect sounds may be accompanied by a verbalindication that “the virtual opponent is approaching.”

Also before moving on to FIG. 3, it is to be understood that e.g.planned exercise information that is received by the logic may includean (e.g. predefined) exercise segment time period (e.g. ten minutes),and the non-verbal cue may thus be and/or include a music segment (e.g.a music file or portion thereof) having a time period of substantiallythe exercise segment time period to e.g. inform the user of the timeremaining for that particular segment. Thus, in some implementations themusic segment may begin at substantially the start of the exercisesegment time period and end at substantially the end of the exercisesegment time period.

Continuing the detailed description in reference to FIG. 3, anotherexample flowchart of logic to be executed by a CE device such as the CEdevice 12 in accordance with present principles is shown, this time forcreating a playlist of music matching a user's cadence. It is to beunderstood that the logic of FIG. 3 (and/or FIG. 4) may be combined withFIG. 2 in some implementations, and/or executed concurrently therewith.Regardless, the logic of FIG. 3 begins at block 90 where the logicreceives exercise information in accordance with present principles. Thelogic then proceeds to block 92 where the logic receives one or morebiometric signals from one or more biometric sensors in communicationwith the CE device as set forth herein. The logic then proceeds to block94 where the logic accesses music metadata indicating a music tempo foreach of one or more music files for matching of the user's cadence withat least one music having at least a substantially similar tempo inaccordance with present principles. Thereafter, the logic proceeds toblock 96 where the logic establishes a playlist including one or moremusic files of music having a tempo matching a desired cadence, actualcadence, etc. of the user. Also at block 96 the logic begins presentingthe music of the playlist.

After block 96, the logic proceeds to decision diamond 98 where thelogic determines whether the user's cadence has changed (e.g. actualcadence, and/or estimated based on the transition from one exercisesegment to another based on time and/or location such as beginning toproceed up a hill). If the logic determines at diamond 98 that theuser's cadence has not changed, the logic proceeds to block 100 wherethe logic continues presenting music from the playlist of music of thesame tempo or substantially similar tempo. If, however, the logicdetermines at diamond 98 that the user's cadence has changed, the logicinstead proceeds to decision diamond 102 where the logic determineswhether a biometric parameter of a user has exceed a threshold, or isbelow a threshold, depending on the particular parameter, acceptablehealth ranges, user settings, etc. For instance, if the user's heartrate exceeds a heart rate threshold, that could be detrimental to theuser's heart and the user may thus wish to be provided with anotification in such a case. As another example where a notification maybe appropriate, if the user's core body temperature exceeds atemperature threshold (e.g. the user is too hot) or even falls beneath athreshold (e.g. the user is too cold), that could be detrimental to theuser's brain and thus a notification of the user's temperature would bebeneficial.

In any case, should the logic determined that at least one biometricparameter does not exceed a threshold or is not below another threshold(e.g. the biometric parameter is within an acceptable range, healthyrange, and/or user-desired range as input to the CE device by the user),the logic proceeds to block 100 and may subsequently proceed from there.If, however, the logic determines that a threshold has been breached,the logic instead moves to block 104 where the logic instructs the userto speed up the user's cadence/pace and/or slow down as may beappropriate depending on the biometric parameter to be brought within anacceptable range. Also note that at block 104 should the biometricparameter be dangerous to the user's health (e.g. based on a data tablecorrelating as much), the logic may instead instruct the user to stopexercising completely and/or automatically without user input provide anotification to an emergency service along with location coordinatesfrom a GPS receiver on the CE device.

Regardless, after block 104 the logic proceeds to block 106 where thelogic changes or alters the playlist (and even entirely replaces theprevious playlist) to include music with a tempo matchable to bring theuser's biometric parameter within an acceptable range. For example, ifthe logic determines that a biometric parameter exceeds a threshold, andthus that a user needs to slow down, the playlist may be altered topresent (e.g., from that point on) music with a slower tempo than waspreviously presented. Then after block 106 the logic may revert back todecision diamond 98 and proceed again from there. For completenessbefore moving on to FIG. 4, also note that based on a positivedetermination at decision diamond 98, in other exemplary instances thelogic may proceed directly to block 106 where the playlist is changed tomatch the user's current cadence, which has changed according to apositive determination made at diamond 98.

Now in reference to FIG. 4, another example flowchart of logic to beexecuted by a CE device such as the CE device 12 in accordance withpresent principles is shown, again for presenting music with a tempo tomatch a user's cadence but this time based on a change in time and e.g.thus transition from one exercise segment to another. The logic of FIG.4 begins at block 110 where the logic receives exercise information inaccordance with present principles. The logic then proceeds to block 112where the logic begins presenting music with a first tempo (e.g. firstbeat speed) for a first time to match a user's actual and/or desiredcadence in accordance with present principles (e.g. after a user beginsan exercise routine). The logic then proceeds to decision diamond 114where the logic determines if the first (e.g. preset) time has expiredat which the user was to exercise at the first tempo. Thus, it is to beunderstood that the first time, and indeed subsequent times, may bepredefined by a user as input to the CE device prior to beginning theexercise routine. For instance, the user may provide input to the CEdevice to provide music of a certain tempo for ten minutes so that auser can match his or her cadence thereto, then present music of arelatively faster tempo for twenty minutes thereafter so that a user canincrease his or her pace after ten minutes of warming up at a slowerpace.

In any case, if the logic determines at diamond 114 that the first timehas not expired, the logic proceeds to block 116 where the logiccontinues presenting music at the same tempo as prior to thedetermination. If, however, the logic determines at diamond 114 that thefirst time has expired, the logic instead proceeds to block 118 wherethe logic presents music with a second tempo (e.g. second beat speeddifferent than the first) for a second time to match a user's actualand/or desired cadence for the second time in accordance with presentprinciples. The logic then proceeds to decision diamond 120 where thelogic determines if the second time has expired at which the user was toexercise at the second tempo. If the logic determines at diamond 120that the second time has not expired, the logic may proceed to block116. If, however, the logic determines at diamond 120 that the secondtime has expired, the logic instead proceeds to block 122 where thelogic presents music with a third tempo (e.g. a third beat speeddifferent than the first and second beat speeds, or just different thanthe second beat speed) for a third time to match a user's actual and/ordesired cadence for the third time in accordance with presentprinciples.

Continuing the detailed description in reference to FIG. 5, it shows anexample flowchart of logic to be executed by a server for providingmusic to a CE device with a tempo to match a user's cadence inaccordance with present principles. The server logic of FIG. 5 begins atblock 130 where the logic receives a request to access a user's account(e.g. such as a cloud storage account stored on the server). Assumingsuccessful authentication of the CE device with the cloud account,access to the account is also provided at block 130 by the server. Thelogic then proceeds to block 132 where the logic receives tempo and/orcadence information (e.g. based on input from a biometric sensor on theCE device providing the information) for which music with acorresponding at least substantially similar tempo is to be matched. Thelogic then proceeds to block 134 where the logic locates and/orotherwise determines music files stored on the server that comport withthe received tempo information. Note that at block 134, the music filesthat match the received tempo data may be determined as set forth herein(e.g. using music file metadata), and may be selected from locationsincluding the user's cloud storage on the server but also or in lieu ofthat, music in the public domain and/or music provided over e.g. ageneral publically available music piece library and/or an Internetradio service. These music sources may be used or may not be useddepending on e.g. settings set by a user at the CE device andmanipulating a user interface in accordance with present principles.

In any case, after block 134 the logic proceeds to block 136 where thelogic provides (e.g., streams) the music to the CE device, along withproviding any corresponding purchase information for music files beingprovided e.g. that the user does not already own and/or is not in theuser's cloud storage (e.g. based on determinations that the user doesnot own the music e.g. by searching the user's storage areas for thepiece of music), such as music provided using an Internet radio service.The logic then proceeds to decision diamond 138 where the logicdetermines whether input has been received that was input at the CEdevice and transmitted to the server that indicates one or more musicfiles have been designated (e.g., “bookmarked” by manipulating a userinterface on the CE device and/or providing an audible command thereto)for purchase by the user. For instance, the user may want to designate asong for later purchasing so the user does not forget the details of thesong he or she wished to purchase and hence cannot locate it later, butat the same time does not wish to complete all necessary purchase stepswhile still exercising such as e.g. providing credit card information.

If the logic determines at decision diamond 138 that no input has beenreceived to designate one or more music files for later purchasing, thelogic proceeds to block 140 where the logic stores data indicating themusic files provided to the CE device so that the same music files maybe presented again at a later time should the user elect to do so bymanipulating the user's CE device. Also at block 140 the logic may storeany and/or all biometric information it has received from the CE device(e.g. for access by the user's physician to determine the user's healthstatus or simply to maintain biometric records in the user's cloudstorage). Referencing decision diamond 138 again, if the logicdetermines thereat that input has been received to designate one or moremusic files for later purchasing, the logic moves to block 142 where itstores data indicating as much for later access by the user to use forpurchasing the music (e.g. creates a “bookmark” file indicating themusic files designated for purchase). Concluding the description of FIG.5, note that after block 142 the logic may proceed to block 140.

Continuing the detailed description in reference to FIG. 6, an exemplaryuser interface (UI) 150 configured for receiving input (e.g. touch inputto a touch-enabled display presenting the UI 150) from a user toconfigure settings of a CE device in accordance with present principlesis shown. The UI 150 includes a first setting 152 for configuring the CEdevice to match song lengths with workout segments (e.g. a set ofcrunches) and/or exercise route segments, and thus includes yes and noselector elements 154 for providing input on whether or not,respectively, the CE device is to match songs with segments. Also shownon the UI 150 is a second setting 156 for whether the CE device shouldprovide virtual coaching instructions in accordance with presentprinciples, and includes yes or no selector elements 158 for providinginput on whether or not, respectively, the CE device should providevirtual coaching.

In addition to the foregoing, the UI 150 may include a non-verbal cuesection 160. The section 160 may include left and right turn settings162, 164, with respective input fields 166, 168 for inputting auser-specified number of beeps (e.g. relatively high-pitched soundsseparated by periods of no sound) that are to be provided to the userwhile proceeding on an exercise route to instruct the user where to turnin accordance with present principles. Also note that the settings 162,164 include respective selector elements 170, 172 that are selectable tocause another UI and/or a window overlay to be presented for selectingfrom other available sounds other than the “beeps” that may be used toindicate turns, and indeed it is to be understood that different soundsmay be used to indicate turns in addition to or in lieu of differingsound sequences.

The UI 150 also includes a setting 174 for a user to provide input usingthe yes or no selectors 176 regarding whether e.g. non-verbal turn cuesshould be presented in only the ear piece corresponding to the directionof the turn. For instance, a right turn non-verbal cue would only bepresented in the right earpiece, whereas a left turn non-verbal cuewould only be presented in the left earpiece of headphones. A racevirtual opponent setting 178 may also be included in the UI 150 andincludes yes and no selector elements 180 for a user to provide input onwhether the user wishes to have virtual opponent data (e.g. indicationsof the location of the virtual opponent represented as non-verbal audioDoppler cues) presented on the CE device in accordance with presentprinciples. Last, note that a submit selector 182 may be presented forselection by a user for causing the CE device to be configured accordingto the user's selections as input using the UI 150.

Turning now to FIG. 7, an exemplary UI 190 for configuring gestureand/or voice control settings in accordance with present principles isshown. The UI 190 includes a faster beat setting 192, which includesgesture command selections 194 and voice command selections 196 each fordifferent gesture and voice command options to provide input to the CEdevice to present a song with a faster beat than one being currentlypresented. Note that one or more of the selections for each of thegesture and voice commands may be selected, if desired, though e.g. theCE device may prevent selection of the same specific command forrequesting both a faster beat and a slower beat (e.g. the same handgesture could not be used for requesting a song with a faster beat and aslower beat). In any case, the UI 190 also includes a slower beatsetting 198, which includes gesture command selections 200 and voicecommand selections 202 each for different gesture and voice commandoptions to provide input to the CE device to present a song with aslower beat than the one currently being presented.

In addition to the foregoing, the UI 190 may also include an exercisemachine configuration setting 204 for providing input to the CE devicefor whether the CE device is to change exercise machine configurationsfor an exercise machine (e.g. increasing or decreasing resistance,speed, incline or decline, etc.) being used by the user and incommunication with the CE device (e.g., using NFC, Bluetooth, a wirelessnetwork, etc.) based on the user's biometrics and even e.g. user-definedsettings for targeted and/or desired biometrics for particular exercisesand/or user-defined settings for safe ranges of biometrics. For example,if the user indicated that he or she wished their heart rate to averagea particular beats per minute, the CE device may configure the exercisemachine to increase or decrease its e.g. speed or resistance to bringthe user's actual heart rate into conformance with the desired heartrate input by the user to the CE device. Thus, the setting 204 includesyes and no selector elements 206 for providing input to the CE device tocommand the CE device to change exercise machine configurationsaccordingly or not, respectively. Also note that the UI 190 alsoincludes a select machine selector element 208 for selecting an exercisemachine to be communicatively connected to and configured by the CEdevice (e.g. by presenting another UI or overlay window for machineselection) and also a pair using NFC selector element 210 that isselectable to configure the CE device to communicate with the exercisemachine automatically upon close juxtaposition of the two (e.g.juxtaposition of respective NFC elements) to exchange information forthe CE device to command and/or configure the exercise machine inaccordance with present principles.

Moving from FIG. 7 to FIG. 8, it shows an exemplary tempo matchingsettings UI 220 including plural settings for matching a user's cadenceand/or heart rate with music of at least substantially the same tempo inaccordance with present principles. The UI 220 includes at least a firstsetting 222 for matching tempo based on one or more biometricparameters, and accordingly includes a selection box 224 for a user toselect one or more particular biometric parameters for such purposes. Asecond setting 226 is also shown for selecting one or more genres ofmusic from which music will be selected by the CE device forpresentation when being matched to a biometric parameter, andaccordingly includes a selection box 228 for a user to select one ormore music genres for such purposes. A third setting 230 is also shownfor selecting one or more moods of the user which the CE device is to(e.g. intelligently) match with music of a corresponding mood, the musicalso including a matching tempo in accordance with present principles,and accordingly setting 230 includes a selection box 232 for a user toselect one or more moods that the user is feeling for such purposes. Afourth setting 234 is included on the UI 220 as well, the setting 234being for selecting one or more musical artists associated with musicpieces to be selected by the CE device for presentation when beingmatched to a biometric parameter, and accordingly includes a selectionbox 236 for a user to select one or more artists for such purposes. Yeta fifth setting 238 may be presented for selecting one or more previousexercise routine and/or workout music playlists that were previouslypresented in accordance with present principles from which music may beselected for the current exercise routine (e.g., if the CE devicedetermines that the music from the previous playlist has a beat matchingone or more current biometric parameters), and accordingly includes aselection box 240 for selecting one or more previous exercise routineplaylists for such purposes.

It is to be understood that still other settings may be configured usingthe UI 220, such as a setting 242 for matching music using the likesand/or preferences of social networking friends, and accordinglyincludes respective yes and no selector elements 244 for providing inputto the CE device for whether to match music to be presented with one ormore biometric parameters based on likes from the user's socialnetworking friends. Note that e.g. the CE device may be configured toaccess one or more of the user's social networking services (e.g. basedon username and password information provided by the user), to parsedata in the social networking service, and make correlations betweensocial networking posts and e.g. track names (e.g. from a database oftrack names) for musical tracks to thereby identify music that is“trending” or otherwise “liked” by the user's friends. Still anothersetting 246 may be presented for matching music in accordance withpresent principles by using music that is currently popular based one.g. Billboard ratings, total sales on an online music providingservice, currently trending even if on a social networking site of whichthe user is not a member, etc., and accordingly includes yes and noselectors 248 for providing input to the CE device for whether to matchmusic in accordance with present principles using currently popularmusic. The UI 220 may also include a cloud storage setting 250 with acloud selector element 252 and a local storage selector element 254 thatare both selectable by the user to provide input to the CE device fordifferent storage locations from which the CE device may gather and/orstream music to be presented in accordance with present principles.Thus, selecting the selector element 252 configures the CE device togather music from the user's cloud storage account, and selecting theselector element 254 configures the CE device to gather music from theCE device's local storage area, and indeed either or both of theselector elements 252, 254 may be selected. The UI 220 may include stillanother setting 256 with yes and no selectors 258 for providing input tothe CE device on whether to instruct a server to insert recommendedmusic into a playlist and/or sequence of music to be presented duringthe exercise routine, including e.g. Internet radio music, sponsoredmusic, music determined by the processor as being potentially likeableby the user (e.g. based on genre indications input by the user, similarmusic already owned by the user, etc.), music not owned by the user butnonetheless comporting with one or more other settings of the UI 220(such as being from a genre from which the user desires music to bepresented), etc.

Still in reference to FIG. 8, in addition to the foregoing, the UI 220may include a bookmark music setting 260 for configuring the CE deviceto receive commands to designate one or more pieces of music that arepresented during a workout routine for purchasing at a later time afterthe workout concludes. Thus, a gesture selector element 262 isselectable to configure the CE device to receive a (e.g. predefined)gesture command to designate music accordingly, as well as an audiblecommand selector element 264 selectable to configure the CE device toreceive an (e.g. predefined) audible command to designate music forpurchasing, and even an entire playlist selector element 266 that isselectable to configure the CE device to at a time after conclusion ofthe workout present a listing (e.g. playlist) of all music pieces thatwere presented to the user during the workout routine and from which auser may select one or more music pieces for purchasing. Note that insome embodiments, selection of the selector elements 262, 264 mayautomatically without further user input configure the CE device topresent another UI and/or an overlaid UI for a user to specify one ormore particular gestures and/or audible commands that are to beassociated by the CE device as being a command(s) to designate/bookmarka particular piece of music when that particular piece of the music ispresented in accordance with present principles. Thus, for instance,should a particular gesture be designated as a command when detected bythe CE device to bookmark the music piece, the CE device upon receivingthe command may set a flag and/or data marker for the music to beidentified at a later time and presented to the user as being previouslybookmarked, and that in such instances the CE device need not presente.g. an audible or visual indication of bookmarking upon receiving thecommand that the piece of music is to be bookmarked (although in someimplementations e.g. brief audible feedback such as a chime sound may bepresented to indicate to the user that the CE device received thebookmark command and did indeed “bookmark” the piece of music for laterpurchasing).

Still in reference to the UI 220, a skipping music setting 268 is shownfor skipping a piece of music the user does not like (e.g. ifrecommended to the user during an exercise routine). Thus, a gestureselector element 270 and a audible selector element 272 are bothselectable for configuring the CE device to skip a piece of music beingpresented responsive to receiving a (e.g. predefined) gesture or audiblecommand, respectively, indicating as much. Note further that each of theselector elements 270, 272 may be selectable configure the CE device topresent another UI and/or an overlaid UI for a user to specify one ormore particular gestures and/or audible commands that are to beassociated by the CE device as being a command(s) to skip a piece ofmusic in accordance with present principles.

Concluding the description of FIG. 8, the UI 220 also includes a shareselector element 274 selectable to configure the CE device toautomatically post, publish, and/or share, etc., over one or more socialnetworking services the piece(s) of music and/or music playlistpresented to the user while exercising upon completion of the exerciseroutine, it being understood that the CE device may also be configuredto present on a display of the CE device the playlist e.g. after theworkout routine has been completed, including presentation of musicmetadata and music tempos. A submit selector element 276 for submittingthe user's selections of settings in accordance with present principles.

Now in reference to FIG. 9, another UI 280 is shown for presentingcurrent biometric information, music information, etc. while engaged inan exercise routine. It is to be understood that the UI 280 may thus bepresented on the display of an exercise machine for viewing by the userwhile using the machine, and/or on the user's personal CE device that isin communication with the exercise machine. In any case, the UI 280includes a music information section 282 including various pieces ofinformation about a piece of music currently being presented that wasmatched by the CE device with one or more of the user's biometricparameters in accordance with present principles. As may be appreciatedfrom the section 282, the music information may include e.g. artistname, track title of the song, album of the song, duration of the song,who owns the song (e.g. the user and stored locally on the CE device,and/or a third party music provider streaming the music to the CEdevice), an indication of the popularity of the music and even aparticular demographic with which the music is popular (e.g. in thepresent instance the song is popular based on “like” indications by fivekilometer runners input at their respective CE devices, and in otherinstances popular and/or recommended music from a user's personaltrainer monitoring exercise plans and observing biometric informationcollected by the CE device in accordance with present principles), andan indication of the beats per minute of the song. Note that althoughthe CE device may access music e.g. using its own network interface toaccess a cloud storage area of the user, in addition to or in lieu ofthat the exercise machine may itself access a storage area storing musicand then e.g. stream the music from the exercise machine to the user'sheadphones (e.g. using NFC pairing).

In addition to the foregoing, the UI 280 also includes a biometricparameter section 284 for presenting one or more pieces of informationrelated to the user's biometric parameters as detected by one or morebiometric sensors such as those described above in reference to FIG. 1.For instance, information that may be presented includes heart rateinformation, cadence information, and/or breathing information.

Furthermore, the UI 280 may include a prompt 286 for a user to provideinput using yes and no selectors 288 while a piece of music is beingcurrently presented during the exercise routine to easily bookmark thepiece of music for later purchasing (e.g., one touch bookmarking). TheUI 280 includes a second prompt 290 for a user to provide input usingyes and no selectors 292 while a piece of music is being currentlypresented during the exercise routine to automatically without furtheruser input store the particular piece of music in the user's cloudstorage once purchased or if purchasing is not necessary. Last, anoption 294 is presented on the UI 280 for whether to change exercisemachine configurations manually using yes and no selectors 296, and thuse.g. selection of the yes selector from the selectors 296 may causeanother UI to be presented and/or overlaid that includes exercisemachine settings configurable by a user to configure the exercisemachine. This may be desirable when e.g. the CE device automaticallyconfigures the exercise machine according to one or more biometricparameters in accordance with present principles but the usernonetheless wishes to manually override the automatic configuration.

Moving on in the detailed description with reference to FIG. 10, anexemplary illustration 300 that illustrates present principles is shown.As may be appreciated from the caption boxes of FIG. 10, a user and a CEdevice in accordance with present principles are audibly exchanginginformation and indeed the CE device is audibly providing a “virtualcoach” to provide (e.g. intelligently determined) encouragement to theperson shown in the illustration 300 and even encouragement based one.g. biometric data. Another illustration 302 is shown in FIG. 11including a graph 304 indicating the various segments of a user'sworkout routine represented in terms of heartbeats per minute over time,and also shows thumbnails 306 sequentially arranged from first musicpresented to last music presented, where each one is respectivelyassociated with a piece of music presented during the exercise routineand matched to the user's one or more biometric parameters, and/or analbum from which the piece of music was selected. Note that a caption308 is also shown that indicates an example of audio feedback that maybe presented by the CE device during a “cool down” exercise stage,identifies the song, and/or provides instruction on how to bookmark themusic (e.g. for later purchasing and/or listening). In the presentexemplary instance the CE device may bookmark the music (e.g. and mayalso store bookmark information locally on the CE device's storagemedium) responsive to a single tap input by the person to a particulararea of a touch-enabled display of the CE device or any touch-enabledarea, and furthermore a double tap input to a particular area of atouch-enabled display of the CE device or any touch-enabled area may beprovided by the user to skip the song being presented and cause the CEdevice to automatically without further user input provide another songmatching the user's biometric parameter(s) and/or cool down phase of theexercise routine.

With no particular reference to any figure, it is to be understood thatin accordance with present principles, the CE devices disclosed hereinmay be configured in still other ways to match music with one or morebiometric parameters. For instance, when determining whether a biometricparameter conforms to at least a portion of planned physical activityinformation, such determining may be executed e.g. periodically at apredefined periodic interval, where responsive to the determination thatthe biometric parameter does not conform to at least a portion ofplanned physical activity information, the CE device may automaticallypresent an audio indication in accordance with present principles byaltering the time scale of a music file being presented on the CEdevice. E.g., rather than presenting an entirely different piece ofmusic to the user, the CE device may digitally stretch or compress thecurrently presented music file to thereby adjust the beats per minute aspresented to the user in real time. Thus, time stretching of the musicfile may be undertaken by the CE device, as may resampling of the musicfile to change the duration and hence beats per minute.

In reference to the automated and/or virtual coaching discussed herein,it is to be understood that the CE device may present such informationwhen the user configures settings for it to do so (e.g. using a UI suchas the ones described above). Virtual coaching may include notifying auser when the user is transitioning from one exercise segment to another(e.g. based on GPS data accessible to the CE device while on an exerciseroute). For instance, the virtual coach may indicate, “You are startingto proceed up a hill, which is segment three of your exercise.” Otherinstructions that may be provided by a virtual coach include, e.g., atthe beginning of an exercise routine, “Starting your ride now,” and “Atthe fork in the road ahead, turn right.” Also at the beginning of theworkout and assuming the user has not already provided input to the CEdevice instructing the CE device to present a virtual opponent inaccordance with present principles, the CE device may provide an audioprompt at the beginning of the exercise routine asking whether the userwishes to race a virtual opponent (e.g., “Would you like to race againsta virtual opponent?”), to which e.g. the user may audibly respond to inthe affirmative as recognized by the CE device processor using naturallanguage voice recognition principles.

As other examples of indications that may be made by a “virtual coach”using the CE device, the CE device may indicate after conclusion of anexercise routine how much time, distance, and/or speed by which the userbeat the virtual opponent. Also after conclusion of the routine, the CEdevice may e.g. audibly (and/or visually) provide statistics to the usersuch as the user's biometric readings, the total time to completion ofthe exercise routine, the distance traveled, etc. Even further, the CEdevice may just before conclusion of the exercise routine provide anaudible indication that the routine is almost at conclusion byindicating a temporal countdown until finish such as, “Four, three, two,one . . . finished!”

Referring specifically to gestures in free space that are recognizableby the CE device as commands to the CE device in accordance with presentprinciples, note that not only may a user e.g. skip a song or request asong with a faster or slower pace based on gestures in free spacedetected by a motion/gesture detector communicating with the CE device,but may also e.g., pause a song if the user temporarily stops anexercise. For instance, if while proceeding on an exercise route theuser happens upon a friend also walking therealong, the user may providea gesture in free space predefined at the CE device as being a commandto stop presenting music (and/or tracking biometric data) until anothergesture command is received to resume presentation of the music.

Now in reference to the music, music files, songs, etc. describedherein, present principles recognize that although much of the presentspecification has been directed specifically to music-related files,present principles may apply equally to any type of audio file and evene.g. audio video files as well (e.g., presenting just the audio from anaudio video file or presenting both audio and video). Furthermore and inthe context of a music file, the metadata for music files describedherein may include not only beats per minute and music genre but stillother information as well such as e.g., the lyrics to the song.

Present principles also recognize that although much of thespecification has been directed specifically to exercise routines,present principles may apply not only to exercising but also e.g.sitting down at a desk, where the CE device can detect e.g. using abrain activity monitor and blood pressure monitor that a user isstressed and thus suggests and/or automatically presents calming musicto the user.

Notwithstanding, present principles as applied to exercising recognizethat the following are exemplary audible and/or visual outputs by the CEdevice in accordance with present principles:

“Different song to get going?”, which may be presented responsive to adetermination that the user is not keeping up a pace input by the useras being the desired pace.

“You are slowing down, want a different song?”, which may be presentedresponsive to a determination that the user is beginning to slow downhis or her pace (e.g. gradually but falling outside the predefineddesired pace).

“Run until end of song,” which may be presented responsive to adetermination that the user is about to come to the end of an exercisesegment or the exercise routine in totality, and hence the end of thecurrent song signifies the end of the segment and/or routine.

“Increase activity for next minute,” which may be presented responsiveto a determination that the user needs to exercise faster for the nextminute to comport with e.g. a predefined exercise goal. Such CE devicefeedback may also be provided e.g. for the user to gradually increasetheir tempo/cadence as a workout progresses from a lower intensitysegment to a higher intensity segment.

“Your heart rate is one hundred two beats per minute,” which may bepresented responsive to a determination that a user has input a commandduring an exercise routine requesting biometric information for heartrate.

Present principles also recognize that more than one CE device may beprovide e.g. non-verbal audio cues to set a pace/cadence for respectiveusers exercising together. For example, two or more people may wish toexercise together but do not wish to listen to the same music. Theusers' CE devices may communicate with each other and e.g. based on apredefined cadence/tempo metadata that is exchanged therebetween (e.g.based on a desired cadence indicated by a user prior to the workoutroutine) different songs with the same beats per minute matching thepredefined cadence may be presented on each respective CE device so thatthe users may establish the same pace albeit with different music.

Moving on, it is to be understood that e.g. after conclusion of anexercise routine, the user may not only share the user's exerciseroutine over a social networking service but may also e.g. provide theexercise data to a personal trainer's CE device (e.g. using acommonly-used fitness application) so that the personal trainer mayevaluate the user and view exercise results, biometric information, etc.

Describing changes in cadence/tempo of a user, it is to be understoodthat should the user break stride, the CE device although detecting asmuch may not automatically change songs to match the new cadence but insome implementations may e.g. wait for the expiration of a thresholdtime at which the user runs at the new cadence, thereby not changingsongs every time the user accidentally breaks pace and instead changingsongs once the user has intentionally established a new pace.

Describing the non-verbal cues with more specificity, note that e.g. theCE devices described herein may be configured to dynamically withoutuser input change from providing verbal cues to only providingnon-verbal cues in some instances when e.g., after a threshold number oftimes making the same turn or otherwise exercising on the same route,the CE device determines that only non-verbal cues should be presented.This may be advantageous to a user who is already familiar with aneighborhood in which the user is exercising and hence does notnecessarily need verbal cues but may nonetheless wish to have non-verbalones presented that do not audibly interfere with the user's music asmuch as the verbal cues. Such determinations may be made e.g. at leastin part by storing GPS data as the user proceeds along the route eachtime it is traveled which at a later time may be analyzed to determinewhether the threshold number of times has been met.

Present principles further recognize that although some of thespecification describes CE device features in reference to e.g. runningor cycling, present principles may apply equally to other instances aswell such as e.g. swimming or any other exercises establishingrepetitive/rhythmic exercise motions.

Last, note that the headphones described herein may be configured toe.g. undertake active noise reduction on ambient noise present whileexercising, while still allowing “transient” sounds like the soundgenerated by passing cars or someone talking to the exerciser to beheard by the exerciser. This headphone configuration thus promotessafety but still allows for clearly listening to music without unwantedambient noises interfering with the user's listening enjoyment.

While the particular PRESENTING AUDIO BASED ON BIOMETRIC PARAMETERS isherein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that thesubject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limitedonly by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: at least one computerreadable storage medium bearing instructions executable by a processor;at least one processor configured for accessing the computer readablestorage medium to execute the instructions to configure the processorfor: receiving signals from at least one biometric sensor of anexerciser; based at least in part on the signals from the biometricsensor, selecting a music piece; and playing the music piece on aspeaker.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor is aheart rate sensor.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor whenexecuting the instructions is configured for: selecting the music piecebased at least in part on determining that a tempo of the music piecematches a tempo indicated in the signals from the biometric sensor. 4.The device of claim 1, wherein the processor when executing theinstructions is configured for selecting the music piece from a musicpiece library associated with the exerciser.
 5. The device of claim 1,wherein the processor when executing the instructions is configured for:selecting the music piece from a general music piece library; andproviding output to the exerciser prompting the exerciser to purchasethe music piece.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor whenexecuting the instructions is configured for: determining whether aheart rate of the exerciser as indicated by signals from the biometricsensor exceeds a threshold; responsive to a determination that the heartrate exceeds the threshold, decreasing a tempo of the music piece; andresponsive to a determination that the heart rate does not exceed thethreshold, not decreasing the tempo of the music.
 7. The device of 1,wherein the processor when executing the instructions is configured for:determining whether a heart rate of the exerciser as indicated bysignals from the biometric sensor is below a threshold; responsive to adetermination that the heart rate is below the threshold, increasing atempo of the music piece; and responsive to a determination that theheart rate exceeds the threshold, not increasing the tempo of the musicpiece.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor when executingthe instructions is configured for selecting the music piece based atleast in part on: accessing metadata associated with the music pieceindicating a tempo of the music piece; and determining whether the tempoof the music piece matches a tempo indicated in the signals from thebiometric sensor.
 9. Method comprising: receiving signals from at leastone biometric sensor indicating at least one biometric parameter of aperson; and keying music being played to the person to the signals. 10.The method of claim 9, wherein the biometric parameter defines a rate,and the rate is used to select a music piece the tempo of whichsubstantially matches the rate.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein thebiometric parameter defines a rate, and the rate is used to alter atempo of a music piece to substantially match the rate.
 12. The methodof claim 9, further comprising: selecting the music based at least inpart on determining that a tempo of the music matches a tempo indicatedin the signals from the biometric sensor.
 13. The method of claim 9,comprising selecting the music from a music piece library associatedwith the person.
 14. The method of claim 9, comprising: selecting themusic from a general music piece library; and providing output to theperson prompting the person to purchase the music.
 15. The method ofclaim 9, comprising: determining whether a heart rate of the person asindicated by signals from the biometric sensor exceeds a threshold;responsive to a determination that the heart rate exceeds the threshold,decreasing a tempo of the music; and responsive to a determination thatthe heart rate does not exceed the threshold, not decreasing the tempoof the music.
 16. The method of 9, comprising: determining whether aheart rate of the person as indicated by signals from the biometricsensor is below a threshold; responsive to a determination that theheart rate is below the threshold, increasing a tempo of the music; andresponsive to a determination that the heart rate exceeds the threshold,not increasing the tempo of the music.
 17. The method of claim 9,comprising selecting the music based at least in part on: accessingmetadata associated with the music indicating a tempo of the music; anddetermining whether the tempo of the music matches a tempo indicated inthe signals from the biometric sensor.
 18. A computer readable storagemedium that is not a carrier wave, the computer readable storage mediumbearing instructions which when executed by a processor configure theprocessor to execute logic comprising: receiving signals from at leastone biometric sensor indicating a cadence of physical activity of aperson; and based at least in part on the cadence, establishing aplaylist of music.
 19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18,wherein the playlist includes music files that each respectively includea first music tempo that is at least substantially similar to thecadence.
 20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, whereinthe cadence is a first cadence, and wherein the instructions configurethe processor to automatically alter the playlist responsive to a changein cadence of the physical activity of the person, the change in cadenceestablishing a second cadence, the altered playlist including musicfiles that respectively include a second music tempo that is at leastsubstantially similar to the second cadence.